The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1887-07-23
INFANTS AND YOUNG CHILDREN,

portant Suggestions by the ohio State
Board OF Health.
Thousands of children die every wear
from improper care and bad surround.
ings. 1t is estimated that out of one
hundred iive-born children, from forty
to fifty will die before the close of the
fifth year. That large proportion Of
these deaths could be prevented. is well
established. and the State Board Of
Health has presented herewith, in simple
form, instructions for the care and
management of children, which. if fol-
lowed. will be the means Of saving each
year many precious lives.
In seeking for the cause of this ex-
:essiye infant mortality, we find that
fhe acute infectious fevers, such as
measles, diphtheria, smallpox, scarlet
lever and whooping-cough; infamma-
lions of the respiratory apparatus, as
pneumonia, bronchitis, ETC., and diar-
rheal diseases, are the main factors in
producing it.
Smallpox. scarlet fever, diphtheria,
etc, are to be prevented by avoiding
exposure to these diseases, or to cloth
ing or other articles containing the
poison by which they are caused.
1t is to be specially urged that chill
dren be vaccinated at an early age, and
thus be protected from that dread dis
case, smallpox.
Circulars on the restriction and pre-
yention of these diseases have been
issued by the Board, and will be sent to
any one on application.
The other causes of death of children,
viz, Inflammation of the lungs and
aiarrhGal diseases, may be largely pre-
vented by precautions in regard to ex-
posture and diet. Great care is needed
with little children, to provide them
with proper
CLOTHING.
The first want of newborn babe is
heat. 1t is unable to supply sufficient
heat to keep itself warm. even when
heavily clothed; hence, unless constant
ly in bed with its mother during the
first week or two of life, the rooms it
inhabitants must be constantly kept
warm.
AS the child grows older and is
placed, as it should always be, to sleep
by itself, it will often, by its restless
ness, become uncovered at night 1t
should sleep in night dresses of flannel,
preferably made as one garment and
sewed up at the bottom, so the feet can
not become uncovered.
Clothing for children should always
be made very loose, giving their limbs
and lungs free movement 1t is when
children are old enough to walk and be
out of doors that the greatest care is
demanded for protecting them by
proper clothing. 1t is at this age that
deaths so frequently occur from acute
infammatorv affections of the lungs,
and this is undoubtedly due to expos
ure and improper dress. Care must be
taken TO clothc the limbs and chest
warmly. Mothers are often negligent
in this respect, and children may fire.
quently be seen in cold weather,
clothed in heavy skirts and dresses,
but With legs and necks comparatively
bare.
1t should be remembered that in
most houses in winter, cold stratum
of air is to be found near the floor, and
hence, infants placed on the floor may
be greatly exposed to cold in COM
paratively warm room.
CLEANLINESS.
Attention must be given to cleanli-
ness, and children should not be al
lowed to sleep in soiled garments.
Clothing worn at night should be
shaken and thoroughly aired when re-
moved in the morning. The clothing
and napkins soiled by the discharges
of young infants should be removed at
once, and not used again until washed
and thoroughly dried. The washing
and airing should not be done in the
nursery or living rooms.
Unless children are very feeble they
should have frequent baths, except
when otherwise directed by the physi-
clan. If they are too delicate for full
bath, sponging should be substituted
The popular idea that dirty children
are the healthiest, is certainly not true
in regard to nursing infants.
The factor of greatest Importance to
the health of children is their
FOOD AND FEEDING.
Especially is this true of nurslngs
and children under two years of age.
The only natural and best possible food
for an infant is breast milk. If the
mother has sufficient supply and is in
good health, OF if suitable wet nurse
can be secured, nothing but breast milk
and pure water should be given the
child for the first five or six months.
The child is very frequently injured by
overlooking. A feverish child, craving
water, is often given an inordinate
supply of food, by nursing, to quench
its thirst. Many things besides hunger
cause children to cry and be restless;
and Us n rule, for the first two months
they should not be nursed oftener than
once in two hours, and older children
not so often. From the first. children
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